Disclaimer: Only the AU plot is mine.
A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get to this, I've been super busy lately. I'll have the next chapter out by this time next week though.
Remember that the events in this chapter are taking place simultaneously to the events in chapter 7.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8 Saving Me
'Show me what it's like...To be the last one standing..
And teach me wrong from right..And I'll show you what I can be.
Say it for me...Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me...Say it if it's worth saving me.'
Saving Me by Nickelback
"My lord, I was sent to ask how we are to determine who we should take prisoner and who we should leave behind. It seems we're all having the same problem."
Lord Voldemort looked up in surprise at Severus Snape. They shouldn't be bothering him with things like this when he had bigger problems on his mind. He waved his hand idly.
"Lucius will decide. He has instructions on this matter."
"Where can I find Lucius then, my lord, to ask him?"
"You should have seen him already. I sent him off hours ago."
"I have not seen Lucius since this morning at the ministry, Master."
Snape could see Lord Voldemort's fingers clench tightly as he gripped the arms of his chair. He knew immediately what the untrusting dark lord was thinking.
Traitor.
The dark lord stood and approached Severus. Voldemort appeared to be composed, but just below the surface his anger was bubbling. He wasn't going to be too quick to judge though, not this time, Lucius was now too important a player to be killed offhandedly.
Malfoys' son however, was a different story. When Lucius returned, he'd better have a damn good excuse for not following orders.
"I trust your judgement Severus. Bring only the ones Harry will attempt to rescue. I believe two more will be sufficient as there are already three from the Burrow in our possession." Voldemort went back to his chair and sat down again. "And Severus, come to me immediately once you've seen to the prisoners. Lucius informed you that you will be given a new position, correct?"
"He has."
"We'll discuss it further when you return."
Severus bowed his head low.
"Thank you my lord."
"Is Bellatrix near?"
Snape's lip curled slightly."She is, of course, right outside your chamber doors."
"Send her in on your way out then."
Severus bowed his head again as he withdrew. Seconds later the tall doors flung open and Bellatrix entered.
"You wished to see me Master?" she purred smoothly as she crossed the room and crouched low at Voldemort's feet.
"Yes Bella. Lucius is—missing. Is his son still among us?"
"He is not here my lord. Do you wish for me to check the manor?"
"Yes, Bellatrix, do that. If you find him, do not let on that anything is amiss, and return straightaway. I expect I will see you again within the hour."
"Of course."
Bellatrix left Riddle House and set off for Malfoy Manor. She searched the lower and upper floors almost frantically for Draco, releasing a small sigh of relief when she found him sitting in the library, reading what appeared to be a school book.
Draco looked up, put the book on the arm of his chair and stood when she entered the room.
"Aunt Bellatrix, you have—" he moved closer to her and lifted his hand to her hair "Cake in your hair?"
She gave a weak smile as she reached up to clear away what was left.
"Weasley's. They find that sort of thing amusing." She continued, demonstrating for him how George and Fred had levitated the cream puffs and chicken wings at her and Rabastan.
Draco laughed in earnest at her dramatic tale before taking a more serious tone when she was done.
"What else happened today?"
"Nothing spectacular. We fought, they lost."
"Did you find Potter?"
"Not today nephew. But it's only a matter of time. His friends are being put in your dungeons as we speak."
"I should have guessed. Was anyone killed?"
"One for sure on our end, possibly one more." She looked away quickly. "None of them though. Well, with the exception of the minister and the ministry workers who refused to cooperate. The dark lord was very adamant that we keep as many alive as possible."
"And my father?"
"He's around I suppose." She shrugged as she stepped behind him and picked up the book he had been reading.
Draco swallowed hard. His aunt was always nice to him when they were alone, but this was different. She was keeping something from him, possibly to spare his feelings. He knew what news she would have if he prodded, so he kept his mouth closed. He wasn't ready to hear that his father was dead.
"Potions Draco? I thought you were more interested in ancient runes?"
"I like to keep myself well rounded."
"Ah. Smart boy." She turned back to Draco and looked down at him, smoothing his hair back from his forehead. "It won't always be this hard for you. He'll ease up on you once all of this is over and forgotten. You'll see."
"I hope so Aunt Bellatrix. I don't think I'll last much longer like this."
She cupped his chin between her fingers and kissed him lightly on his forehead.
"You know, you look exactly like your blasted father. But when I look into your eyes I see your mother."
He saw her eyes fill momentarily before she turned around and stepped away.
"Have you eaten today? You're naught but a stick in robes, boy."
"I will. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
"I'm not worried. We can't have little stick men fighting for us when the time comes, that's all."
She walked back over to him and smiled.
"If you ever tell anyone I fuss over you Draco Malfoy, I'll curse you myself."
Draco couldn't stop himself. He reached out and grabbed her around her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug which she returned before he released her.
"What's all this Draco?"
"I—I just—I don't know. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me. No one will ever find out that I am your one weakness."
She pushed him playfully.
"As long as it's just between us then. Do make sure you eat though. I'll try to come back later to check in on you."
He nodded at her as she strode from the room.
"Aunt Bella?" He called to her back. She turned.
"Thank you."
She waved her hand dismissively as she disappeared around the corner.
"I'll miss you." he whispered.
But she was already gone.
OoOoO
Draco had been worrying a great deal lately whether he was doing the right thing or not by passing information to Harry, but this time he had no doubts. He was afraid, but he was certain. Now with Lucius dead, there was only one person Draco could depend on, the same person almost every soul in the wizarding world depended upon.
Harry Potter.
Draco was certain that Harry would attempt some foolish rescue once he found out where his friends were, and he would likely be caught. That wouldn't do.
Draco sat waiting anxiously at the base of the mouldering walls just inside Hogwarts grounds. His stomach was tied up in knots and he felt like he would be sick at any moment. But he was standing firm. His life may be over, but there was still hope for the others and he wanted desperately to help ensure that Potter would overcome.
In the distance he heard a vague flutter of wings. He lifted his eyes, searching the night sky for a trace of his ting elf owl. He had sent her almost an hour ago to locate Harry, wherever he might be. He watched the tiny black dot grow larger until finally she landed next to him, a small scroll attached to her leg. He untied it and reached into his pocket for a bit of bread for her.
"Thanks Devika "
He unrolled the parchment and held it up to read the scrawl in the light of the half moon.
I'm coming. Wait for me.
Draco didn't have to wait long. Half an hour after Devika returned, he heard a pop on the other side of the wall and crawled into the bushes nearest him until he was sure who had apparated on the other side of the wall.
"I told you not to trust ferret face Harry. He's not even here."
Ron was already beginning to wear on Harry's nerves. Ron had always been one to talk a lot when he was nervous, and he was past well past nervous right now as he had no news on the condition of his family. Harry was trying very hard to be understanding.
"Do you think he'll be holding a flashing sign saying 'Here I am Harry!'? He's hiding somewhere. We just have to give him a second."
"Really Ronald, he would be stupid to be standing out in the open." Hermione was scanning the area though it was very hard to see in the dark. "Speaking of standing in the open, don't you think we should hide ourselves Harry?"
"You're right. You two can get to the forest, I'll look around for Malfoy."
"No way mate. I'm not leaving you alone."
"Neither am I."
Harry knew better than to argue with either of them.
"Alright then. Follow me."
Harry stepped into the shadows that the brick wall provided and walked a straight line along it, looking for some sign that Draco was there. He was worried because he could have been caught, they could be walking into a trap.
Once Draco was sure that they were the ones he was expecting, he crawled from his hiding place and through a hole at the bottom of the wall. He was immediately spotted by Hermione, who tugged on Harry's shirt.
"There Harry."
Harry turned and saw Draco on the ground on all fours in front of a large bush. Draco motioned for them to follow him back through and to the outer edges of the Forbidden Forest. No one could apparate in or out of there and they would be reasonably safe.
Once they were a fair distance in, Draco turned to Harry.
"I want to be quick about this Potter. They'll miss me after a while."
Harry nodded.
"Weasley, your sister is a prisoner in the dungeon at my home, and she is being treated well, I saw to that at least. The rest of your family as far as I know is fine. I questioned my aunt earlier and when I was able to, I saw the prisoners. They weren't very forthcoming with me though."
Ron visibly sagged with relief and nodded his thanks grudgingly to Malfoy.
"Who else did they take Draco?" Hermione asked.
"We have five. Weasley's sister, Longbottom, Lovegood, Lupin, and Moody. None of them appeared to be seriously injured, just the usual bang ups from a fight."
"Thanks Malfoy." Harry's eyes dropped to Draco's hands which were bunched up in his robes. "We'll work something out."
"I've already done that for you Potter. All you have to do is come in and be the hero."
Ron was not keen on the idea of letting a Malfoy help them, even if Harry did trust him.
"What makes you think we'll trust you that far Malfoy? Do you think we'll actually walk right into your dungeons with you? You could be laying a trap for us for all we know!"
"At least hear him out Ron. He's been trustworthy in the recent past, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."
"Yeah, but Harry, all of that could have been leading up to this. It is Malfoy after all."
Draco wasn't willing to stand by idly while he was slandered, but he did bite back a quick retort that automatically came to his lips though. Insulting Ron was not a good way to win his trust.
"Look. I'm just going to tell you what I've planned, and you can decide from there. I brewed a strong sleeping potion to slip to the guards on duty. The effects are immediate, and should keep them in a deep sleep for hours as long as they aren't too disturbed."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of folded parchment and handed it to Harry.
"This is a layout of the perimeters surrounding my house." Draco reached out and put a finger on the map he had drawn. "That is where the dungeons are." He moved the finger slightly to the left. "Around here is the outside entrance. I'll take down the wards on that door and once you have your friends, I'll replace them. Then you get them as far away from there as possible. I'm the secret keeper of course, so make sure you all read this before you leave here so there won't be a problem."
"Sounds too easy Malfoy."
Ron was no longer working to conceal the venom in his tone. This was Malfoy, no matter what he'd done, Ron would never trust him.
"I planned it that way Weasley. I could make it difficult for you though if you're itching for a fight."
Ron suddenly stepped forward and Draco did the same. Hermione stepped between them, holding her arms out.
"Look Ronald, Harry trusts Draco for a reason. I don't know what that is, but I trust Harry, and so should you."
He glared at Hermione.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't trust Harry, Hermione."
"Then shut up and let Harry decide what to do."
Harry who had remained silent throughout the exchange finall spoke.
"We're not going to do it."
Draco was more hurt than shocked by Harry's words. He had half expected it, but it still hurt to not have his trust even after what had happened the last time they met.
"Alright." Draco said pinching his lips together slightly. "I understand completely Potter."
"No Malfoy you don't. I just can't let you risk yourself that way. Voldemort will figure out that a sleeping potion was used, and once he finds out who gave them the drinks it'll be too bad for you."
Draco shrugged his shoulders slightly and looked down.
"I don't care Potter. I don't have anything to lose."
"Just your life Draco. That's all." Hermione placed her hands on her hips. She didn't like him, but she didn't want to see him die either.
"What life? I'm virtually a prisoner. I'm tortured and beaten on a whim. My parents are dead. Everyone I know hates me..."
"With good reason." Ron interrupted before he could stop himself. "Er..Sorry."
Draco continued as if he had not heard Ron.
"I have nothing to live for, so I might as well make my final act a decent one."
Harry stepped forward and put one hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Your father Draco? Today?"
Draco nodded slightly, refusing to let the tears come.
"Was it Voldemort?"
"No. From what Gin---he had some sort of a physical scuffle with—someone from your side. I'm not sure if he was the one that—"
Draco couldn't speak over the lump that had risen in his throat and he turned his back on them. Even Ron was beginning to feel sorry for Malfoy. He had been imagining what life would be like without his mum and dad all day, and he knew it was hell to lose a parent, even if that parent was Lucius Malfoy.
"So you see," Draco said a moment later as he turned back to face them. "I have nothing to lose. It will work, and you will have your friends back."
"We'll do this Draco, under one condition. After we free them, you come with us."
"You know I can't do that Potter. We—"
"I know, but now, like you said, you have nothing to lose. Come with us, that will at the very least buy you some time. You have no attachments to them anymore."
"I just don't feel right Potter. I can't just run away like a coward. I've done that before and--"
"Do you think I'm a coward Draco? Do you think Hermione and Ron are cowards? We're trying to make a difference, and we can't do that if we're dead or imprisoned somewhere. You can come with us and redeem yourself by helping us do the right thing."
Ron was fidgeting somewhat. He still was wary of Draco and didn't like the idea of the young death eater coming with them.
"Look Harry, I feel for Malfoy, I really do. But do you really think it would be wise for him to be with us?"
Draco reached out and took Harry's hand and pulled him away from the other two. He didn't care what Ron and Hermione would think at that point, and Harry apparently didn't either because he walked freely and did not release Draco's hand, instead clasping it tightly with his other as well. Once they stopped Draco looked down into Harry's face.
"Look Harry, you're pretty much all I have left. I want to do this for you. Please let me do this for you."
Harry shook his head firmly.
"No. I won't let you die for me Draco. I'm not sure how I feel about you, but I know I want you around so I can find out. Don't do this to me. We'll figure out another way."
Whatever they did would have to be done that night, within the next few hours. Draco was determined to convince Harry, if not he would just have to do it himself. He couldn't let Harry die on a rescue mission, not when everything depended so heavily on him.
"Tonight is probably the only night there will only be a few guards. A lot of the death eaters are still recovering, but you know as well as I do by tomorrow they will be healed and ready to go. These particular prisoners were taken because they knew you would take the risk to come and save them."
" All you have to do is come with us Draco. We can go and get them now, and then we can all leave together."
Draco shook his head again and nodded in Ron's direction.
"Weasley is right Harry. It would be a bad thing having a death eater crashing your party."
" You're not one of them. You've proven that." He shook his head again. "I won't let you do it Draco. I won't let you die for this."
"You can't stop me Potter." Draco released Harry's hand. "In one hour if you decide to come then all will be ready. If you don't then the guards will have a really good night's sleep. "
Before Harry could try and stop him, Draco took off in a full run, past a bewildered Ron and Hermione and out of the forest before crawling under the wall and disapparating.
Harry walked back over to his friends and made a very hard decision.
"We'll leave from here in just under an hour."
OoOoO
Exactly one hour later the trio stood outside of the manifesting Malfoy Manor. They walked around the front and to the side Draco had pointed to on the map. Harry spotted the door Draco had referred to and as promised, it opened easily for them.
"That slimy git actually did it!"
"He's taking a great risk to help us Ronald . The least you could do is stop calling him names."
"I'm sorry Hermione. Old habit. I just can't get used to the idea that Malfoy might be good."
"Come on Ron, Hermione, I don't know how much time we'll have."
They followed Harry into the dungeon and walked down a short corridor until they reached the end.
There were two ways to go, left or right. Both had cells lining the hallway. Harry looked down at the back of the map and saw that Draco had also drawn a diagram of the dungeon. He found where they were exactly and an arrow pointed to the right that extended all the way down the hall. They turned that way and walked for a few minutes past the long line of cells before coming across a sleeping guard kicked back in a metal chair leaning precariously on two legs back against the wall.
"Remus? Moody?" Harry called out quietly. He heard a bit of shuffling and a small face appeared at the bottom of a cell door.
"Harry? Is that you?" she whispered.
Ron looked down and almost cried at the sight of his sister's dirty face.
"It's us Gin." he said, his voice slightly wavering. "Where are the others?"
"Luna is in here with me. I think she passed out, or fell asleep. I saw them put Remus and Alastor in the cell with Neville, down there." She reached a grimy finger out and pointed to the very last door on the left. Harry quietly made his way down to it and looked through the bars.
Remus was standing against the wall with his head hung low while Moody sat on a tiny cot with a sleeping Neville's head on his good leg.
"Remus." Harry whispered.
Lupin's head jerked upwards as did Moody's.
"Harry? Merlin Harry you shouldn't be here!"
"Is Neville alright?" Harry was worried because Neville hadn't budged.
"Poor bugger cried himself to sleep" Moody said patting the back of Neville's head lightly.
"Try to wake him quietly. We're getting you out. I just have to find a key. Be right back."
Harry crept over to the sleeping guard and scanned him for a ring of keys or one large key. A crowbar, anything that would open a cell door.
"Damnit. Hermione, do you know a spell that will open these?"
Lupin was now standing at the bars. "Harry, it won't work. They're charmed. They'll only open with the master's key. All prison doors work that way. Get out of here now before they find out you're here!"
"Potter."
Harry jumped at the sound of a voice behind him. It was Draco, standing there holding up a key.
"I forgot to give this to you earlier."
Draco unlocked the cell Lupin was in first before crossing over and unlocking Ginny and Luna's door . He gave them one last look before turning to the stairs to go back up to the house. Harry reached out and grabbed the back of Draco's shirt before he could put his foot on the second step.
"You're our prisoner Malfoy."
"Stop being noble Potter. I'm not leaving."
Harry drew his wand and pointed it Draco before kicking the chair of sleeping guard. The chair crashed to the floor and the man shot up trying to draw his wand. He didn't have a chance before Ron and Hermione 's wands were pointed in his face.
"You're coming with us Malfoy." Harry pointed to the guard. "You too. Move." Harry grabbed Draco roughly by the back of his neck and turned him down the hall, placing his wand in the small of his back.
"Sorry about that. Had to make it look good for our witness. You could put up a bit more of a struggle though."
The ten of them walked quickly back the way the trio had come in. Once they got outside, Harry made a show of flinging a now struggling Draco to the ground.
"You," he said to the guard. "Give me your wand. You too Malfoy."
Once they were handed over, one was given to Moody, the other to Lupin.
"Remus, do you remember the place where we found the dog?" Lupin nodded, understanding that Harry meant the Shrieking Shack where he had first met Sirius all those years ago.
"Go there, all of you. Hermione and I will meet you when we take care of these two."
"Harry, I really don't think—"
"We got you out of here didn't we Remus? We can take care of these two. Now go."
Lupin whispered their destination to Moody, and Harry watched them disapparate in pairs before looking back to his prisoners.
"Now what to do with the two of you?"
Harry closed in on Draco, who was still on the ground with Hermione's wand pointed in his face.
"Rather inept of Voldemort to only have one guard on duty tonight. I was under the impression that my heroic antics were legend."
"Don't kill me Potter, please."
The guard was sickened by Draco.
"Shut up you little coward. Begging that scum for your life. You disgust me."
Harry's attention now turned to the guard.
"What of you? Do you not care if you live or die? And sleeping on duty, you should be willing to have us kill you because once Voldemort finds out that you were the reason his prisoners escaped and his right hand henchman's son was taken prisoner, he'll do a lot worse than we could dream of." Harry smiled at him menacingly. "Hermione, I think we'll spare him so he can receive his punishment from Voldemort himself."
"Right Harry, sounds wonderful to me. Petrificus totalus !"
The guard fell to the ground, stiff as a board.
"Ready Hermione?" She nodded.
"Come on Malfoy, up."
"Harry, no. This is enough. That guard will never say that he was asleep and he'll go along with whatever I say. Please, you've done enough, you've saved your friends now you have to go."
Harry crouched beside Draco. Placing his hands beneath Draco's arms he began to lift him.
"We can't be sure Draco. You could still get the blame."
The two young men were now standing face to face.
" I'm not leaving you here. Thanks to what you told me last night I was far away from the Burrow before they came for me. It's my turn to save you."
A/N: I'm pretty sure I mentioned before that I was writing this story for NaNoWriMo. I finished my 50,000 words (yay!) and there is still no end in sight. I tried to wrap it a few times, but so many sub plots developed...Anyway, somewhere along the line some of this gets a bit..disturbing. I wouldn't post it if I didn't think you guys couldn't handle it. I just wanted to give fair warning.
I've missed hearing from you all, so I hope you'll say hi!